Review Topics for Success

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

  • Determine whether a whole number is a solution to an equation
  • Determine whether an integer is a solution to an equation
  • Solve one-step equations involving integers using the subtraction and addition properties of equality
  • Solve one-step equations involving integers using the multiplication and division properties of equality
  • Identify the least common denominator of two fractions
  • Use the LCD of two fractions to convert them to equivalent fractions
  • Add two fractions with unlike denominators
  • Determine whether a fraction is a solution to an equation
  • Use the equality properties of addition and subtraction to solve equations that contain fractions
  • Use the multiplication and division properties to solve equations with fractions and division
  • Translate statements into algebraic equations involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
  • Solve a linear equation that needs to be simplified before using the subtraction and addition properties of equality and check your solution
  • Solve a linear equation that requires simplification before using properties of equality
  • Solve a linear equation that requires a combination of the properties of equality
  • Identify the constant and variable terms in an equation
  • Solve linear equations by isolating constants and variables
  • Solve linear equations with variables on both sides that require several steps
  • Use the least common denominator to eliminate fractions from a linear equation before solving it
  • Solve equations with fractions that require several steps

Embarking upon an exploration of growth models will entail using all of the arithmetic and algebraic skills you’ve obtained so far in the course. Exponents will play a large role in this module as will simplifying algebraic expressions, so please feel free to return to the Fractal module’s review section as needed to refresh those ideas. But the focus of this review section is to extend the ideas of algebraic expressions into a study of equations. You’ve seen a few brief introductions to skills required to solve equations already. You built up the skill of rewriting expressions using the properties of real nubmers in the review section included in the Set Theory and Logic module, and the Voting Theory module’s review section looked at equations of lines in the coordinate plane. Now, in preparation to study growth models, it’s time to formally introduce the skill of solving equations.

Recall for success

Look for red boxes like this one throughout the text. They’ll show up just in time to give helpful reminders of the math you’ll need, right where you’ll need it.